Control means for electrically actuated devices



lApril 16, 1935. R, T, NEWTON 1,997,780

CONTROL MEANS FOR ELECTRIC/ALLY' ACTUATED DEVICES Filed Aug. 15, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet l f6 o a @E 1H@ ATTORNE' April 16, 1935. l R. T. NEWTON1,997,780

l CONTROL MEANS FOR ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED DEVICES vFilecil Aug. l5, 19532 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTUR Hada/.fd ,Zz/www,

ATTRNEY Patented Apr. 16, 1935 113979780 UNETED STATES PATENT @FFICECONTROL MEANS FOR ELECTRICALL'Z AGTUATED DEVICES Richard T. Newton,Oyster Bay, N.. Y.

Application August 15, 1933, Serial No. 685,l65

Claims. (Cl. 20G- 59) This invention relates, generally, to improve- 6is a fragmentary vertical section, taken on line ments in electricalcircuit controlling means for 6 6 in Fig. 2. electrically actuateddevices of automobiles or any Similar characters of reference areemployed in other type of dirigible mobile conveyance; and the abovedescribed views, to indicate correspond- 5 the invention has reference,more particularly, to ing Darts. l 5

a novel manipulatable means in association with In the said drawings,the reference character l the steering wheel of the conveyance adaptedindicates the steering column of an automobile in especially to controlelectrically actuated devices, which is housed the steering Shaft 2 uponthe such as directional signal devices, audible signal upper end 0fwhich iS flXeCl the Steering Wheel 3- means, head-light dimming means,or other or Afxed to said column l, by IneanS 0f the bOltS l@ likefunctional devices. l and clamp plates 5, are vertically spaced Sup-'rhis invention has for its principal object to porting blocks orstationary yokes e. Disposed provide a novel circuit controlling meansfor an between said yokes t, to turn horizontally in electricallyactuated directional signal system, either direction about verticaltrunnion elements including suitably constructed and placed signal lcarried reSpectiVely by Said ycleS il. iS a direC- l5 elements, whereinthe manipulatable control tiOnal Signal Switch block d Said Clamp Platesmeans is of such novel form and mode of opera- 5, yokes 5 and switchblock 8 are electrically intion as to be capable of association with thesteersulated from the steering column l by an intering post and wheel insuch relation to the latter DOSed Sleeve S 0f any Suitable insulatingmaterial- ;0 that any given operation -of the signal control One 0f theyckeS l5, preferably the upper, iS 20 means may be accomplished by thedriver with provided at its rearward margin with a pail' 0f either hand,and without necessity for removal laterally spaced rigid outwardlyprciecting arms of the hands from the steering Wheel with conselll. OneOf these arms. aS Shown the left-handquent risk of loss of drivingcontrol. arm, supports a stationary inwardly and lat- In another aspectof the invention, the novel erally projecting Contact peint il, hal/ingat itS manipulatable circuit control means for drec- Outer end Suitablebinding DOSt Or Circuit Wire tional signal actuation is furtherconstructed to connection means l2 whereby the Same may be provideadditional means for selective control of electrically connected thrOugha Circuit wire i3 i horn and headlights, as well as of the directionalwith one or more right-turn direCtiOnal Signal 'U signal elements,elements A (see Fig. 1). The other of said arms 30 Other objects of thisinvention, not at this time l0, as shown the right-hand arm, supports astamore particularly enumerated, will be understood ticnary inwardly andlaterally Dreiecting Contact from the following detailed description ofthe DOlnt i4. alSO having at its Outer end Suitable same. binding postor circuit wire connection means Illustrative embodiments of theinvention are l5 whereby the Same may be electrically con- 35 shown inthe accompanying drawings, in nected through a circuit wire i6 with oneor Whichzmore left-turn directional signal elements B (see Fig. 1 is aschematic View, showing in plann Fig. 1). Said contact points ll and lliare remanipulatable control or switch means as mount- SIJectiVelyinsulated, by inSulatiOn SleeVeS ll', ed on the steering post and inassociation with from electrical contact with their respective sup- 40the steering wheel, the latter being broken away, porting arms and thusalso from the yokes 6 and and also showing rear end directional signalele- Switch block 8. The Switch block E iS prcvided ments in verticalsection and as electrically conwith an outwardly and upwardlyDrOJ'ecting connected in circuit with said control or switch tact-piecei8 (preferably integral therewith), the means, other elements such asforward end direc- Same normally lying in a neutral DOSitiOn intertionalsignal elements, headlights and signal mediate Said Contact DOntS ll andi4 and ncrhorn being diagrammatically shown as connected mally Out 0fcOntact therewith; this ccntactin circuit with said control or switchmeans. piece I8 and in fact the switch-block a as a whole Fig. 2 is anelevational View of the novel conbeing yieldingly retained in SuchCentered neu" trol or switch means; Fig. 3 is a View in vertical tralpOSitlOn by ODDOSed Compression Springs i9, 50 section, taken on line 33 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a which are seated in sockets 2a provided in thedetail perspective viewof the horizontal rotative respective arms lll s0that their free ends bear directional signal switch block; Fig. 5 is afragtensionally and with counterbalancing pressure mentary plan viewshowing the parking switch respectively against opposite sides of saidcond" arm in an operative circuit closing position; Fig. tact-piece I8.

Pivotally connected, byfulcrum bolts 2l, respective to the lateral endportions of said switch block 8, so as to overlie the inner facethereof, and so as to turn about their fulcrums in vertical plane areright hand and left hand levers 22 and 23. The right hand lever 22 isprovided, at the inner side of its fulcrum, with a horizontal Atongue orlug 24,and the left hand lever 23 is also provided, at the inner side ofits fulcrum, with a similar horizontal tongue or lug 25. Said tonguesmutually overlap each other, being yieldingly maintained in parallelface to face contact by an interconnecting spring 26 (see Figs. 2 and3), thereby determining the normal or neutral positions of said levers.At the outer end of each of said levers 22 and 23 is a tubular socket 21in which are slidably adjustable the shanks 28 of arcuate finger grips29; said Shanks being fixed in desired adjusted positions by set screws3B. By this arrangement said arcuate finger grips are renderedextensible, so that the same may be moved and disposed relative to therim of the steering wheel 3 according to the diameter of the latter inany given case. It will be noticed that said finger grips 29 are ofarcuate form so that the same may substantially parallel the steeringwheel rim, but the same are preferably somewhat inwardly offset relativeto the outer periphery of the latter, and are spaced beneath so that thengers of the hands engaging the steering wheel may engage said grips forimparting either up or down or sideways movements to said levers.

Carried by said switch block 8, but electrically insulated therefrom,and arranged to project from the inner face thereof above the mutuallycooperative tongues or lugs 23-25 of the levers 22--23, are contact pins3l and 32, the same being respectively provided at their fixed ends withsuitable binding posts or circuit wire connection means 33 and 34. Oneof these contact pins, as 3l, is connected 4through circuit wires 35with one pole of the dimmer filaments of the automobile headlights 36,and the remaining contact pin 32 is connected through circuit wires 3lwith the bright filaments of said headlights, the opposite polesof saidrespective dimmer and bright filaments being grounded for return to thegrounded side of a source of electrical energy, as, for example, storagebattery 38. Means are provided adapted for actuation by suitablemovements of said levers 22 or 23, for cooperation with said contactpins 3|-32 to deenergize the dimmer filaments and simultaneouslyenergize the bright filaments of the ieadlights 36 at will;

this means being also arranged`to operate as an independent shut-offswitch for discontinuing service of the headlights. Illustrative of oneform of such actuatable means there is provided a vertically movable rod39, slidable in a way G0 provided in the lower yoke 6. Said rod 39 isyieldably thrust upward by a spring 6I which is footed upon the loweryoke 6 with its upper end bearing on a washer and cross pin stop lt2withwhich the rod is provided. Pivot-ally connectedv with the upper end ofsaid rod is a contact vbar 43 which extends transversely beneath thecontact pins 3l-32. The free end of this Contact bar 53 isinterconnected by a link ill with the tongue or lug 25 of the left handlever 23. The lower end of the rod 39 projects downwardly beneath thelower yoke 6 and pivoted to this end is retractor cam and stop l5 havinga finger piece d6 for manipulating the same. The use and operation ofthese devices will be subsequently explained.

Also carried by the switch block 8, but electrically insulatedtherefrom, and disposed to prowire i9 with one pole of an electricsignal or alarm horn 50, the other pole of which is suitably groundedfor return to the grounded side of the battery 38.

The directional signal elements A and B each comprise, in one specificform thereof, a suitable casing or housing 5|, capable of being mountedon the conveyance in desired locations, as for example in connectionwith automobiles, one being located upon the right hand rear fender, oneupon the left hand rear fender, and if desired one each respectivelyupon the right and left hand front fenders, or upon any other suitablyexposed part of the automobile body structure. Said housing 5| isprovided at one side with an exteriorly projecting lamp supportingextension 52 having a lamp base receiving socket 53. Formed inconnection with said housing 5I are vertically aligned bearings 56 inwhich is journaled a vertical shaft 55, the upper end of which projectsexteriorly from said housing. Fixed upon the exterior end of said shaft55 is a visible signal device 56, preferably resembling an arrow. Aixedto the lower end of the shaft 55 Within the housing is a lever arm 57 towhich is attached a pull spring (not shown) serving to yieldingly holdthe shaft turned to dispose the arrow signal device 56 in a neutralposition parallel to the longitudinal axis of the automobile upon whichthe signal element is mounted. Suitably secured within the housinginterior is a solenoid 59, to the armature 60 of which is coupled apull-cable 6l. This pull cable runs over a guide pulley 62, that issupported by a stub shaft 63 within the housing, and thence passes tosaid lever arm 51, to which it is attached. Mounted in the lamp socket53 is an incandescent lamp 63, one pole of which engages a fixed contactbrush 65 mounted upon but insulated from the housing by the insulatorplate 66. The other pole of said lamp is grounded to the housing forreturn to the grounded side of the battery 38. A suitable lamp globe 6lis supported on the extension around the lamp', in connection with theupper end of which is secured a top cap 66 having dependent visor orlight shield vanes 69 adapted to render the light beams from the lampmore easily visible, especially in full or partial daylight. The circuitwires I3 or I6, as the case may be, leading to the signal elements, arebranched, so that one branch is connected to one pole of the solenoid59, the other pole of the latter being grounded, and the other branch isconnected to the contact brush 65 which supplies current to the lamp6&3.

A circuit wire 65 is connected between the positive pole of the battery38 and the switch member 8. The functioning of the control switchmechanism for selectively operating the directional signal elements isas follows:

Assuming the driver of automobile, equipped with the novel directionalsignal system, desires to indicate that he is about to make a right handturn; in such case the finger grips 29 are engaged by the ngers of thehand-or hands grasping the steering wheel 3, so that without moving thewheel or by but a slight movement of the wheel from left to right, whichis insufcient to appreciably immediately alter the straight ahead courseof the automobile, tends to swing the levers 22-23 laterally inclockwise direction. Such movement is transmitted to the switch block 8,whereby the same is shifted about the trunnions l in such clockwisedirection. This movement of the switch block 3 carries its contact-pieceiB into engagement with the contact point Il, thereby completing anelectric circuit through the right hand signal elements A, so thatcurrent flowing from the battery 38 through wire and switch block 8 isdelivered through contact point il and circuit wires it to the solenoidsand lamps of said right hand signal elements A; the circuit beingcompleted back tobattery 38 through ground. The completion of thecircuit energizes the solenoid, so that the signal arrow 56 is turned toa transverse position pointing in a direction toward which the driver isto turn; and at the same time the signal lamp 64 is illuminated.Approaching and following automobiles may observe such indicatingpositions of the signal arrows, and thus be warned of the driversintention to make a right turn. It will be obvious that the indicationof an intention to make a left hand turn is made in a similar manner, byswinging the levers 22-23 in anti-clockwise direction, whereby theswitch block 8 is turned to engage the contact point tl, thus servingoperating current to the left turn signal elements B through the circuitwires i6. It will be understood, that the signal elements A and B may beomitted at the front of the automobile, if so desired, and only employedat the rear of the latter.

It is convenient to have parking lights at both the right and left handsides of the automobile, whereby the same may be selectively employedaccordingly as one or the other of said sides is outwardly faced towardthe road at the side of which the automobile is to be left standing orparked. An additional feature of this invention is provision oi meanswhereby the lamps of the directional signal elements may furnish suchparking lights subject to selective use. To this end a manual auxiliaryswitch device is furnished for selective cooperation with the contactpoints ll and it. This auxiliary switch device, comprises a bifurcatedpivotal support 85 extending outwardly from the switch block t, inconnection with which is pivotally mounted, for lateral swingingmovement in either direction, a switch arm 8l' having oppositely andlaterally directed contact ears 88 and 89, the inner end of said switcharm is provided with a square faced projection against which yieldinglybears a spring pressed plunger 9i, thereby holding the switch arm inneutral inactive position as shown in Fig. 1. Should it be desired toemploy the left turn directional signal lamps B as parking lights, theswitch arm 8i is swung to the right, thereby bringing its contact ear 8Binto circuit closing engagement with the contact point it (see Fig. 5).The switch arm is held in such operative position by the pressure of theplunger Si against the engaged side of the projection 90. It will beobvious that should it be desired to utilize the lamps of the right turnsignal elements as parking lights, the switch arm 87 is swungvto theleft into engagement with the contact point Il.

In the operation of the control device with respect to controlling theheadlights of the automobile, the means provided are, in theillustrative form thereof shown in the drawings, adapted to serve alsoas a manual switch for putting the headlights in and out of service.When the retractor cam 45 occupies the position shown in Figs. 2 and 6,the rod 39 is pulled downward and so maintained whereby the contact bart3 is removed from engagement with the contact pin Si i, thusinterrupting the electrical circuit serving the headlights. To put theheadlights into service, said retractor cam is turned to the right, thusreleasing the down pull thereof upon the rod 39, so that the spring 4|may urge upwardly said rod to carry the adjacent end of the contact bar43 into circuit closing engagement with the contact pin 3|, whereuponcurrent from the battery 38 supplied to switch block 8 Aand associatedparts will pass through said rod 39 and contact bar G3 to the contactpin 3l, thence owing through circuit wires 35 to the dimmer filaments ofthe headlights, which are grounded for return to battery 3i?. Should thedriver desire to change temporarily the headlight illumination from dimto bright, either one or the other of the levers 22-23 are presseddownward by the ngers of the hand or hands grasping the steering wheel.Such downward movements of the levers 22--23 produces an upswingingmovement of the lugs 'iQ-25. Upswing of the lug25 is transmitted throughlink M3 to contact bar t3, whereby its free end is upswung againstcontact pin 32, which, serving as a fulcrurn, causes the opposite end ofthe Contact bar .13 to swing downward so as to disengage the contact pin3i, thus interrupting the dini circuit but closing the bright circuit,so that current flows through switch block 8 and associated parts to rod39 and contact bar i3 into contact pin 32, and thence through circuitwires 3l to bright filaments of the headlights. Vl'hen the levers 22-23are released, the parts resume the positions calculated to close the dimcircuit. It will be understood that the specic arrangement abovedescribed is designed to permit driving with dim headlights as normal.condition and bright headlights reserved for emergency or intermittentuse. It will be obvious that the reverse of this arrangement may beattained by reversing the connection of the circuit wires 35 and 3l withrespect to the contact pins 3l and ft2.

In the use of the control device for operating the audible signal orhorn 5t, the levers @i2-23 or either of them are pressed upwardly by thefingers of the hand or hands grasping the steering wheel, thus swingingdownward the lugs 24-25, so as to carry the lug 25 into engagement withthe contact pin W. Under such condition, current from the battery 38flows through switchblock, levers and lugs into said contact pin Si, andthence through circuit wire 49 to the horn 5t, which is grounded forreturn to battery 38. The horn will continue to sound until ups/wingning pressure upon the levers 22-23 is released.

It will be understood that in its simplest form, and as restricted foruse mainly in controlling the directional signal elements, the use ofthe headlight and horn controls, or either of them, may be omitted.

While it is preferable to employ the independent right and left turnsignal elements to be respectively mounted at right and left hand sidesof the conveyance, it will be understood that in its broader aspects, Ido not desire to limit myself to such individual signal elements, sincea. single signal device including in one instrumentality right and leftsignal means may be employed if desired, such signal means beingrespectively connected with and served by the contact points Il and lli.

I am aware that various changes could be made in the above describedconstructions, and that widely different embodiments of this inventioncouldbe made without departing from the scope thereof; it is thereforeintended that all matter contained in the above description and shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

I claim:-

l. Electric circuit control means adapted to be mounted on the steeringcolumn of a conveyance adjacent to the steering wheel thereof andadapted for manipulation by the fingers of the hand or hands graspingthe latter, said control means comprising a stationary supporting means,a switch block mounted in connection therewith for lateral movements,lever means extending from said switch block in opposite directions andterminating in finger grips spaced relative to the rimof the steeringWheel, laterally spaced stationary contact points supported by butinsulated from said supporting means, a contact piece carried by saidswitch block normally disposed betweensaid contact points butselectively movable into engagement therewith upon movement of saidswitch block, by said lever means, said contact points being adapted toserve right and left turn signal elements, to which they arerespectively electrically connected, and spring means for returning saidcontactpiece and said lever means to normal neutral positions whenreleased after any given actuation thereof.

2. Electric circuit control means adapted to be mounted on the steeringcolumn of a conveyance adjacent to the steering wheel thereof andadapted to be manipulated by the ngers of the hand or hands grasping thelatter, said control means comprising a pair of vertically spaced yokesclamped to said steering column and electrically insulated therefrom, aswitch block pivotally supported by and between said yokes, one of saidyokes having a pair of outwardly projecting laterally spaced arms, saidswitch block having a contact portion normally disposed between saidarms, spring means for yieldably centering said switch block with itscontact portion so disposed, lever means extending outwardly from saidswitch block in opposite directions and terminating in finger gripsspaced relative to the rim of said steering wheel, contact pointsrespectively mounted in but insulated from said arms so as to beselectively engageable by Said contact portion of the switch block uponproper pivotal movement of the latter by said lever means, said contactpoints being adapted to serve right and left turn signal elements towhich they are respectively electrically connected.

3. In control means as defined in claim l, a manual auxiliary switch armpivotally connected with said switch block, said switch arm beingselectively movable intov circuit closing engagement with either of saidcontact points independently of movement of said switch block, and meansto yieldably hold said switch arm in neutral inactive position.

4. In control means as defined in claim 2, a manual auxiliary switch armpivotally connected ,with the contact portion of said switch block,

said switch arm being selectively movable into circuit closingengagement with either of said contact points independently of movementof said switch block, and means to selectively and yieldingly hold saidswitch arm in either neutral inactive or active relation to said contactpoints.

5. Electric circuit control means adapted to be mounted on the steeringcolumn of a conveyance adjacent to the steering wheel thereof andadapted for manipulation by the fingers of the hand or hands graspingthe latter, said control means comprising a stationary supporting means,a switch blockv mounted in connection therewith for lateral movements,lever means pivoted for vertical movements to said switch block andextending outwardly therefrom in opposite directions,

said lever means terminating at their outer ends v therewith uponmovement of said switch block,`

and circuit make and break means actuatable by vertical movements ofsaid lever means and their lugs.

6. Electric circuit control means adapted to be mounted on the steeringcolumn of a conveyance adjacent to the steering wheel thereof andadapted to be manipulated by the'ngers of the hand or hands grasping thelatter, said control means comprising a, pair of vertically spaced yokesclamped to said steering column but electrically insulated therefrom, aswitch block pivotally supported by and between said yokes for lateralmovements, one of said yokes having a pair of outwardly projectinglaterally spaced arms, said switch block having a contact portionnormally disposed between said arms, spring means for yieldablycentering said switch block with its contact portion so disposed, levermeans pivoted for vertical movements to said switch block and extendingoutwardly therefrom in opposite directions, said lever means terminatingat their outer ends in finger grips spaced relative to thefrim of saidsteering wheel, said lever means terminating at their inner ends inmutually overlapping lugs, spring means to yieldably hold said levermeans and lugs in neutral normal initial positions, contact pointsrespectively mounted in but insulated from said arms so as to beselectively engageable by said contact p ortion of the switch block uponlateral movement of the latter, and circuit make and break meansactuatable by vertical movements of said lever means and their lugs.

7. Electric circuit control means adapted to be mounted on the steeringcolumn of a conveyance adjacent to the steering wheel thereof andadapted to be manipulated by the fingers of the hand or hands graspingthe latter, said control means comprising a pair of vertically spacedyokes clamped to said steering column but electrically insulatedtherefrom, a switch block pivotally supported by and between said yokesfor lateral movements, one of said yokes having a pair of outwardlyprojecting laterally spaced arms, said switch block having a contactportion normally disposed between said arms, spring means for yieldablycentering said switch block with its contact portion so disposed, levermeans pivoted `for vertical movements to said switch block and extendingoutwardly therefrom in opposite directions, said lever means terminatingat their outer ends in finger grips spaced relative to the rim of saidsteering wheel, said lever means terminating at their inner ends inmutually overlapping lugs, spring means to yieldably hold said levermeans and lugs in neutral normal initial positions, contact pointsrespectively mounted in but linsulated from said arms so as to beselectively engageable by said contact portion of the switch block uponlateral movement of the latter, a con- .tact pin carried by butinsulated from said switch block, a second contact pin also carried bybut insulated from said switch block, contact means movable by said lugsof said lever means when the latter are vertically moved, said contactmeans being electrically connected with said switch block and associatedparts, and said contact means cooperating with said contact pins.

8. Control means as defined in claim 7, wherein said contact means ismanipulatable independently of said lever means and their lugs so as toserve as a headlight shut-oli switch.

9. In an electric circuit control means, a control device adapted to bemounted on the steering column of a conveyance adjacent to the steeringwheel thereof and adapted to be manipulated by the lingers of the handor hands grasping the latter, said control device comprising asupporting means, a switch block mounted in connection therewith forlateral movements, circuit make and break devices selectively actuatedby lateral movements of said switch block, lever means pivoted forVertical movements to said switch block and extending outwardlytherefrom in opposite directions, said lever means terminating at theirouter ends in finger grips spaced relative to the rim of said steeringwheel, a plurality of circuit make and break means selectively actuatedby vertical movements of said lever means.

l0. Electric circuit control means adapted to be mounted on the steeringcolumn of an automobile adjacent to the steering wheel thereof,comprising a stationary supporting means a switch block mounted inconnection therewith for lateral movements, lever means pivoted uponsaid switch block for up and down vertical movements while being capableof right and left lateral swinging movements with said switch block,insulated circuit terminals carried by said supporting means selectivelyengageable by said switch block when moved by given lateral swingingmovements of said lever means, a circuit closing means controlled byup-swinging movement of said lever means, another circuit closing meanscontrolled by down-swinging movement of said lever means, and means toautomatically return said lever means from any given actuated positionto normal neutral position.

RICHARD T. NEWTON.

